A former Warwick district councillor is embroiled in a planning row to stay in her mobile home on green-belt land.

Christine Askew, a former Tory member for Budbrooke ward, was refused a certificate for lawful use to use a mobile home for residential purposes.

The site at Five Ways Nurseries, Five Ways, Haseley, west of Warwick, is a former gardening base and now the home of Warwickshire Plant Hire. It is alleged there has been a caravan on the yard at the industrial site for four years.

Mrs Askew served on Warwick District Council for 12 years, until 1997, and previously lived in Hampton-on-the-Hill.

There was no planning application, and the district council refused to grant a certificate for lawful use for living on the land.

Enforcement action was initiated by the planning committee and this will lead to a formal hearing next year.

Beausale, Honiley, Haseley and Wroxall Joint Parish Council objected to permission being given.

Cllr Josie Compton (Con, Leek Wootton), whose ward serves Haseley, said: "The site is well screened and I don't think anyone knew the two caravans were there until there was an application for a Tetra (emergency services radio) mast nearby and they were seen by planning officers.

"It came before the planning committee as she is a former councillor.

"Each case has to be judged on its planning merits. We have to treat the lady like everyone else and look at it on its planning merits."

Cllr Compton said she went along with the view of the officers and parish council, as she was unfamiliar with the site.

The appeal will be heard at Leamington Town Hall on March 30.

* The unrelated application for the Tetra mast was withdrawn on the day it was to go before the planning committee after a storm of protest from residents.